2 Samuel 2:10

Ish-bosheth—was forty years old,—and reigned two years— Ish-bosheth was born in the year that Saul was made king, for Saul reigned forty years, Acts 13:21. Ish-bosheth reigned two years, says the sacred writer. Now, by referring to the next verse, and the first of the next chapter, we shall see that this is to be understood with some restriction. Ish-bosheth reigned all the time that David resided at Hebron, that is seven years and a half; but they both reigned two years in peace, without attacking each other; which seems to be all that the sacred historian would affirm. The five last years of Ish-bosheth's reign, were rather the years of Abner's reign than of his own; for this general left him only the name of a king. Different solutions are given to this passage by other interpreters. Houbigant, in particular, reads six instead of two years, but without any authority; and Le Clerc and Schmidt think, that Ish-bosheth really reigned only two years; an opinion utterly irreconcileable with the next chapter. Possibly, the words reigned two years, may be considered as referring to what follows in the 12th verse, to mark out the epocha of the commencement of hostilities between the two kings; and so they might be rendered, and he had reigned two years: then, inclosing the next and what follows in a parenthesis, the 12th verse might begin, Then Abner, &c. The phrase, went out, in that verse is military; and we frequently find to come in and go out, used in that sense in Scripture.